Ten ties up Indian cricket league

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NEW DELHI -- Australia's Ten Network has secured a five-year deal for exclusive rights to air the Indian Premier League, the recently launched cricket series by the Board for Control of Cricket in India.

The deal, reportedly worth between AUS$10 million (US$8.8 million) and AUS$15 million, challenges the Nine network's traditional dominance of cricket broadcasting. It was negotiated with Singapore-based sports marketing and management agency World Sport Group.

The IPL's first season run April 18-June 1. The IPL has eight teams competing in Twenty20 matches. Sponsorship auctions for the teams were held early this month. Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Preity Zinta, backed by investor partners, bought five-year rights for two teams.Janine Stein in Singapore contributed to this report.